"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." – Khalil Gibran

A.S. Face 0064: Liezel janse van rensburg

I was diagnosed when I was 23, now 31, the disease is so aggressive that there is not a joint, that is not affected. I started with Humira in march of this year and for the first time in my life I was pain-free! However, my body has started building up resistance to Humira, and I am now back in back every day!
I am staying active and refuse to surrender do this!

You are beautiful, Liezel. You should do in South Africa what was done in France where I am (and was diagnosed, had been living and working in UK for 7 years but their health system -hum, lack of really- means I’d probably have ended up in sectionned in a psych ward for being told I was making things up or whining when I hardly ever utter a word about pain, let alone wine!) :
One of the beautiful young members of the national association of AS sufferers modelled for a portrait on a poster aiming at AS awareness (focusing on how invisible yet real the pain is). The message next to the portrait was “do you find me beautiful ? well, I can tell you I suffer so much you cannot imagine, even if it doesn’t show and I am so young”. Something along the line of it.
If you guys have a national association in South Africa, think about it, to raise awareness.
Anyway, beautiful lady, best of luck and keep being brave !